Death Toll Rises to 9 in the Guwahati Bikaner Express Train Accident

12 coaches of the Guwahati-Bikaner Express train derailed near the Maynaguri town of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal on Thursday.

The train was heading to Guwahati, Assam from Bikaner in Rajasthan.

The train derailed between the New Domohani and New Maynaguri railway stations at around 5 pm.

9 people have been killed and 45 others injured. Many disturbing visuals have emerged showing passengers stuck between the twisted carriages. 

The critical passengers were shifted to the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri, New Frontier Railway sources said. 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishna said that he’s personally monitoring the situation.

“I am reaching the site tomorrow morning. Medical teams, senior officers at the spot. PM Modi also took stock of the situation and rescue operation. Our focus is on rescue. Ex-gratia also announced," the minister told news agency ANI. 

After preliminary investigation minister Ashwini Vaishna said that there was a technical issue with the locomotive. “In some parts of the locomotive there seems to be a technical fault. We will have to dismantle it and examine it”, he added. 

Rs. 5 Lakh compensation will be given for death, Rs. I lakh for grievous injury and Rs. 25,000 for simple injuries. 

All passengers were removed from the accident site by Friday morning. A high level enquiry has also been initiated.